Tri-Cities briefs

There is an open house at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 to discuss the design of the new playground equipment for the Batavia Riverwalk, The meeting is at the Batavia Civic Center, 327 W. Wilson St. Attendees will get to vote on the new design. For more information, call Jim Eby, planning and development director, at (630) 879-5235, ext. 2011 or visit bataviaparks.org.

'Memories of Mom' support:

Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice offers "Memories of Mom," a support group for women who have experienced the death of their mother at any age for any reason. The group meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 16 to Oct. 21, at FVVH offices, 200 Whitfield Drive in Geneva. The program is free, but registration is required by today. For more information, go to fvvh.org, call (630) 232-2233, or e-mail info@fvvh.org.

ECC hosts auditions:

Elgin Community College is holding auditions for its fall play, "Ajax." Tryouts for the Greek tragedy will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday in Room VPA 284D at the ECC Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive. Actors should familiarize themselves with the play and be prepared to read scenes from it during the 30-minute audition. Callbacks, if necessary, will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday. To schedule an audition, call (847) 622-0300.

Fantasy football in Aurora:

Fantasy football league fans have an opportunity to participate in the new Chicago Chapter of the NFL Alumni Association's Fantasy Football League to be launched 6 to 10 p.m. Friday at Mike and Denise's Pizzeria & Pub, 1760 N. Farnsworth, Aurora. A $10 donation to Fox Valley United Way, payable at the door, will get local fantasy football fans into the event - and make them eligible to win two tickets to a Bears home game. A Bears' jersey signed by linebacker Lance Briggs and two official NFL footballs signed by running back Matt Forte and wide receiver Jonny Knox will be raffled during the event. For details, see UnitedWay.org/backtofootball. Schools can register at NFLRUSH.com/backtofootball.

Fall Harvest at Blackberry:

Visitors to Fox Valley Park District's Blackberry Farm will be able to step back in time during the annual Fall Harvest from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. The event will feature interactive demonstrations of how early pioneers lived and a variety of pioneer games. Singer Chris Vallillo will perform from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Town Square. Admission is $4.25 for resident adults and $3.75 for resident children and seniors; it's $7 for other adults and $6 for nonresident children and seniors. For details, visit foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

Donate blood:

Give blood from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Sugar Grove Fire Department, 25 S. Municipal Drive. Walk in, or make an appointment by calling Joy at (630) 466-7190 or Kathy at (630) 466-4634.